The Mentawai eat monkey-head soup, tattoo their bodies, chisel their teeth to points, paint themselves yellow and decorate their hair with flowers. They also hold the medicinal knowledge of over 1,000 plants in their heads. Their reverence for life has protected Siberut, while rainforests throughout South East Asia are being destroyed at alarming rates.

1n 1994, Virginia Cowling, aged 77, and James Owens, aged 27, trekked through mud and pulled leeches off their bodies to visit the Mentawai on the island of Siberut in Indonesia. "Siberut - Ten Days in the Mentawai Jungle", which tells the story of their encounter with the Mentawai, will be published early next year.

In the meantime, click on the pictures to learn more about Virginia and James' encounter with the Mentawai and their world. Make sure to sign their homepage if you would like to be notified when the book is published.